Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-12-02
SENSIBLE FooLlNo.
How Boston Man Got tho Sort of Vacation
Ha NVunfaI

How Boston Man Got tho Sort of Vacation
He Wanted.
heard In downtown Office tale
which recalls Hawthorne's story Of the
man who went out for walk one
evening after saying good-by 10 his
wife. and did not return for twenty
years, which ho spent in house on
the adjoining street. 1t seems that a
citizen of Boston, whose name, II /
should give 1t, would be recognized at
once by many of my readers, found
himself last spring in very worn and
nervous condition. 1t seemed to be
absolutely necessary that he should go
somewhere where it would be impos-
sible for letters or kilograms of busi.
moss to annoy him. The family physi-
clan suggested trip to Europe, and
his wife protesting her willingness to
stay at homo and look after tho large
family of children. tho merchant for
euch ho was, apparently acquiesced.
He stipulated that no one should sec
him oil, and that no letters should be
expected from him, but instead, he
promised to send ''cablegram." twice
week to his wifo. Tho fact was that
he had horror of the sea voyage, and
had secretly resolved to crafty homo
sick desire Of revisiting alone-which
he would never have bcon allowed 10 do
under ordinary circumstancos--the viii
lage in northern Now England re-
gion whore his childhood was spent
However, ho engaged passage In o
White Star steamer, and, after an
affectionato farewell to both his wife
and children. started for New York.
He stayed in that city Just long enough
to make sure that his name was on the
passenger list of the steamship -
and to arrange for series of half
weekly 'cablegrams" from Liverpool.
London, Paris, Lucerne etc, to his
wife, and departed for tho country.
The trick was certainly cruel one
but the mans mental condition was so
morbid and perverted that think ho
must be held partly excusable. Some
admiration is also excited by tho neat
ness with which the plan was carried
out Prayers were duly offered In IN
Episcopal Church for "a person gone
TO sea-" his friends noted with salts.
faction the quick arrival Of the steamer
IN which he was supposed to have
sailed, and tho kilograms that his wife
received every few days announcing
his continued improvement in health
were great source of satisfaction 10
her. In fact, however, her husband wns
fusticating under an assumed name
9t little tavern IN hts native villAgR
He bought a horse rodo about tln
country, rovivlng old recollectioDS
and breathing IN rest and strength
from the pure mountain air.
The donoumcnt was, Of course. the
most difficult part of tho affair. He
had intended at first to keep up the
deluslon to the very end, and ostensl-
bly, returned from the foreign tour
laden with European presents, puP-
chased In New York. But as his
nerves recovered their wonted tone
and his thoughts began to be less en-
crossed with himself, the instinct Of
honesty reassured itself, and he deter
mined to make n full confession. he
had kept informed by some means Of
the whereabouts and condition Of his
wife and children, and accordingly he
was able to surprise thcm one day by
riding calmly into the seaside village
where they were staying. and dis
mounting bronzed and healthy, in the
bosom Of his family. A good deal OF
explanation was necessary, and there
was some shame on one side and
wounded feelings on the other; but.
upon the principle that ''all's well that
ends well" tho affair was amiea bly,
settled. Boston Post